Tales of a Ninja Magician: Of What Defines Us

Decency

"Before you leave on a short break, so that everyone who needs it can get medical help and evaluate what they've just seen, let's see who the participants of the next match shall be", the overseer said and turned to the large monitor with flashing letters.

For the third time that day, letters rolled around, forming random names on the list of genin that have still not been examined in this stage before the names scattered and were replaced by others. Eventually, the board settled on the teams that were supposed to clash inside the sealed off arena next: "Stea Tesprea (Team Phobos/Getsugakure) & Erumo Budoki (Team Fir/Konohagakure) VS Kei-J (Team Stratus/Kumogakure) & Juhi Aburame (Team Pine/Konohagakure)"

"Another person from Team Phobos, huh"? Kiyomi wondered rhetorically before slowly advancing towards the exit. Ninja may have been tremendously fast in combat, but as far as leaving a hall in a calm and orderly manner was concerned – they may as well have been turtle-paced.

Mana sunk deep in thought about what she could remember about the silver haired competitor from Getsugakure. Her eyes were really bright and kind and Mana couldn't recall any semblances of malice or attempt to seriously injure or hurt anyone in her. She also was always the voice of reason for her more patriotic and rash teammates, as evidenced by Team Hokage's first meeting of the three right before signing up for the Chuunin Exams.

Either way, even if Stea was a kinder and more reserved member of Team Phobos she still was considerably powerful. Mana still got the shivers whenever she recalled the dominating and chilling manner in which Team Phobos dispatched of an Iwagakure trio back in the Forest of Death and, while Stea did not look overly excited about that battle, she still completely overwhelmed her opponents back then with an ability Mana still could not completely understand.

"Wow, you're really moody today, don't worry, I'm sure Meiko will be fine", Kiyomi placed a hand on Mana's shoulder as the two rushed to the infirmary to see if their friend was OK. Her wounds were quite gruesome but this was not a field of battle and medical attention was just a couple of floors away. Despite her most genuine intentions to calm Mana's racing pulse, the blonde was significantly worried herself as the tone of her voice betrayed.

"I'm thinking about the next battle. I'm kind of glad that Kouta's teammate found herself teamed up with someone from Team Phobos, those guys are strong, means she'll have as high chances of proceeding as possible", Mana tried coming clean about her inner turmoil, Meiko's injuries were only a part of that hurricane of emotions.

"You need to really stop worrying over your quarrels with those guys. You've been all like on a carpet of needles whole day. You made a choice, you've tried your best to make it right with them. If they want to hold it against you – that's on them", Kiyomi grinded her teeth in irritation as the two burst into the infirmary.

Luckily, for them there were no complex surgeries being performed, Meiko was out cold and a medical ninja was carefully treating her legs using Mystical Palm. Whereas previously Meiko's legs were shreds of bone and flesh, now they were just swollen and beaten lumps quite resembling human legs. The medical ninja still was to get to Meiko's other injuries.

"Meiko"! Kiyomi shouted out as she ran up to her teammate. "What are you doing to her? What are you doing now? What is this jutsu? What are those tools"? The Yamanaka continued to pester the medical ninja like a nagging wife much to the male nurse's irritation.

"I'm sorry about her, are we interrupting something important"? Mana asked a fellow female nurse who was just standing about and observing the procedure, ready to step in if the male nurse ran out of chakra or tired out. While the medical ninja working here were qualified professionals, they were not exactly the cream of the crop enough to heal people in the field of battle or in the Konohagakure Hospital.